Water-level alarm



May 13 1924.

1,493,751 N. O. HOLMSTEN ET AL WATER LEVEL ALARM Filed May 5. M22

IN V EN TOR Y N. O. Ho/msfen B Patented May 13, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

NIILO OSKAR HOLMSTEN AND STEN RUDOLF RUNTUJARVI, OF BROOKLYN, AND SWEND LINDQUIST, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

WATER-LEVEL ALARM.

Application filed May 3,

T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, NIILO OSKAR HOLM- STEN, S'IEN R-UDOLF RUNTUJARVI, and SwnNn LIND UIsT, all citizens of Finland, the first two residing at Brooklyn, county of Kings, State of New York, and the last residing at New York, county of New York, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in ater-Level Alarms, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to alarms in conjunction with steam power boilers, the main object being to provide a device which is adapted to be secured to a boiler adjacent to the water level indicating glass. Said alarm is provided with a means for giving an audi' ble signal when the feed water within the boiler has reached the danger point, the

latter being generally indicated at the bottom of the glass.

Another object is to provide a means for giving an audible alarm when the fresh supply of feed water being fed into the tank, has reached the highest level thereby preventing overfilling or similar other troubles.

These and other objects will become apparent in the description below in which characters of reference refer to like-named parts in the drawing.

Referring briefly to the drawing; Figure 1 indicates a front elevational view of the device as secured in place between the blowofl manifold and the water glass.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of Fi ure 1 showing the float chamber partly in section.

Figure 3 is a cross section thru one of the contacts as shown by the line 3-3 in F igure 1.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal section taken on line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Describing the drawing in detail the numeral 10 indicates a water glass commonly used in all steam power plants to indicate the level of feed water within the boiler. Said water glass is generally connected to the boiler by an inlet 11 and return 12.

The device is preferably attached in place between a blow-off manifold 13, which is connected directly to the boiler and the aforesaid water glass 10. The feed water first circulates thru said manifold 13 thence 1922. Serial No. 558,253.

thru the device and finally flows thru glass 10 which indicates the level of the water.

Said alarm de ice essentially comprises a longitudinal tubular shell let provided with external threads 15 at its ends which engage the flanged caps 16. Each of said caps are provided with a series of pipe fixtures such as a union 17, a reducer elbow 18, a straight elbow 19 and a T 20. Said pipe fixtures are connected to each other in the order named, and provide a means for communicating the circulation of the feed water from the boiler thru the device.

Tubes 21 located near the upper and lower ends of shell 14 project tangentially therefrom and are provided with threaded necks 22. Said tubes have holes 21 and taper shoulders 23 which connect with the main shell chamber An annular porcelain member 26 provided with a flange 27 is inserted into hole 24:, the flange thereof seating upon an asbestos packing ring 28 which rests upon the aforesaid shoulder 23. Said porcelain chamber 26 is retained in place by a hexagonal nut 29 which engages the threaded neck 22 and urges the flange 27 of the said member to sit rigidly upon the seat so as to prevent leakage.

A metallic stem 30 imbedded in said porcelain and extending longitudinally therethru projects from both ends. The exterior projecting end has a sleeve 31 secured thereto which receives one end of a current conducting wire 32. The interior projecting end of said stem is provided with a copper sleeve 3O so as to give a more secure electri cal contact.

A rectangular block of insulating material 33 secured to the side of shell 14 has a terminal lead screw 34 secured therein but insulated from said shell 14. The adjacent lead screw 35 passes thru said block and is rigidly attached to the shell 14 by solder or in some other approved manner. The usual form of knurled nuts 36 are provided with the lead screws and secure the lead wires 37 and 38 to their corresponding terminal lead screws 34 and 35. A battery 39 and an alarm bell 40 are connected in series between the lead wires 3'? and 38.

The shell chamber 25 is provided with a stop rib 42 located diametrically opposite the upper stem 30 and a rib 43 similarly located opposite the lower stem 27. IA hollow ball 41 is mounted within said chamber and has a range or" action limited by the said ribs 42 and 43.

In using the device after the same has been installed in place, it is to be understood that the device is of primary importance when feed Water is being pumped into the boiler, as then the water on raising will float the ball 41 lifting the latter upwardly until it contacts with rib 42 and the upper stem and close the circuit thru the wire 32 and the ground lead 35 thus energizing the bell 4:0 and thereby signalling that the boiler has been filled to the required level.

Similarly as the feed water level recedes the float will drop until it seats upon rib 43 and lower stem 30 thereby closing the circuit thru the wire 32 energizing bell thereby signalling that attention is required.

Thus it can be seen that a device eliminates the overfilling of the boiler and permitting the water level to become too low within the boiler.

We claim 1. A water level alarm comprising a shell member having caps secured thereon, pipe tubes projecting tangentially therefrom hav ing shoulders formed therein, porcelain members 1nserted 111 said tubes, asbestos rings seated on said shoulders, and adapted to receive the flanges of said porcelain members, nuts securing said porcelain members in place in the tubes, metallic stems projecting from said porcelain members into the shell chamber, a float in said shell chamber between said stems, a-segmental rib rigid on the inner periphery of the shell opposite each stem member, said float being adapted to close a circuit by contacting with said rib and its corresponding stem.

In witness whereof we aflix our signatures.

NIILO OSKAR HOLMSTEN. STEN RUDOLF RUNTUJARVI. SWEND' LINDQUIST. 

